It’s great to see what can happen when people get together! Thanks to the Eco Warriors and the Rotary Club of Dumfries Devorgilla for joining members of the Dumfries Historic Buildings Trust and the local community for a morning’s clean-up along the riverside of Rosefield Mills last Saturday.
Tyres, parts of cars, carpets, cans, an old microwave ….. and the skip was filled in no time, plus plenty of green bags. There is certainly more to be picked up and pulled out. Apart from cleaning some of the site, getting together also allowed conversations about what the Mills could become, building on the previous community consultation that has collated a fantastic range of ideas.
Following the two hours tidy-up the group were treated to home-baking and refreshments and had an opportunity to look around one of the workshops which will soon be available for rent, now that repairs have been completed thanks to funding from the Town Centre Fund, attracted with the support of Dumfries & Galloway Council. In fact, this workshop was recently used by a TV crew visiting Dumfries to film for the new Channel 4 Tool Club series.
Rosefield Mills is a large site, but one with amazing history and some great opportunities. Anybody wishing to contribute to the future of the Mills, either through ideas, admin support, future clean-ups or indeed financially, please get in touch with the Dumfries Historic Buildings Trust via email [email protected]
Rosefield Mills – woollen mills which opened in 1885 and ceased to operate as such in 1939. The mills were later used as base for Norwegian soldiers and fishermen and as a transit camp during the Second World War. A prominent riverfront portion of the mills was purchased by the Dumfries Historic Building Trust in 2018. Public consultation has taken place for some initial ideas on what the building could be used for. At present the Trust continues to follow up various avenues to raise funds to repair and find sustainable new uses for the magnificent riverfront building.
CCTV cameras have now been installed in the hope of deterring further fly-tipping on the site.
